Directory-machine



W. C. CUTLER.

QMZECTORY MACHINE. APPusMm m5 JAN- 9. 1920.

Patented Sept. 21, 1920.

5 SHEETSSHEET l- ATTORNEY W C. CUTLER. DIRECTORY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1920.

Patented Sept. 21,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

we I we IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNE YS.

Y W. C. CUTLER. DPRECTORYV MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1920.

1,353,458. Patented Sept. 21,1920;

5 SHEETS-SHEET a.

:Efii". IE. 22.

INVENTOR W. C. CUTLER.

DIRE'CTORYMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9.1920.

1,353,458. PatentedSept. 21,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- INVENTOR W. C. CUTLER. DIRECTORY momma.

- APPLICATION FILED um. 9. 1920. 4 1 353,458, PatentedSept. 21, 1920.

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z b'YEQTOR I ATTORNEY ting means in 1g. 8;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. CUTLER, or NORTH GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

DIRECTORY-MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 21, 1920.

Application filed January 9, ea. Serial No. 350,420.

To all w homit may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM North Glendale; in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Directory-1 filachine, of which the following is a specification.

This-invention relates to devices displaying desired information when operated.

One object ofthis invention is to provide a simple device for displaying information by simplified means.

Another object is to prevent a moving of cards before set by the setting means.

Another object is to provide setting-means absolutely independent from the lifting means for the cards. v j

Another object is to prevent a throwing out of the cards from their resting and in as from the accompanying drawings, in

which- I I Figure 1 is a perspective view of the outside of the device. I

Fig. 2 is a detail fragmentary sectional front elevation of the several means sup porting and operating the cards or information-displayingmeans in normal and resting position.

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the setting means. V v V Fig. 4 is a'detail fragmentary side elevation of thelifting means.

Fig. 5 is a detail side View of the lifting carriage seen in direction of the arrows 55 ofFig.2. a Fig. '6 is a side elevation of the liftingcarriage seen in the direction-of the arrows 66 of Fig.2. I p

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the rest and supporting bars for the cards or displaying means v 7 Fig. 8 is a detail fragmentary front elevation of the setting means.

Fig. 9 is a sli ht modifieationof the set C. CUTLER,- k 1 V a cltizen 01. the United .otates, residing at tion of the retarding means for the use of the ope Fig. 10 is a detail fragmentary front elevation of the lifting means for the cards and displaying means.

Fig. 11 is a detail fragmentary front elevation of the interlocking means between the setting means and the lifting means Figpl2 illustrates a foot lever connection for the lifting means. Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views. 1 v

Fig. 13 is a detail fragmentary side elevafor the lifting mechanism. a

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary end elevation of the inside mechanism of the device the end plate of the cabinet being taken away'entirely, the lifting mechanism being shown in a position having a card lifted out of resting position in contrast to the resting position of all the several parts of the device in the illustration in Fig. 2.

Fig. 15 is a'vertical cross sectlonal view of the device with the'inside mechanism assembled therein partly broken away to not cover other parts, one of the cards is .illustrated partly lifted in engagement with the lifting mech anism the card engaged between the prongs 3801? the small traveling and lifting member and that member engaged by the prongs 34: in the lifting bar 35.

In Fig.1; 13 designates the cabinet orboX] or container for the displaying means and the several operating means, The front side 14 of this cabinet, is provlded Wltll an opening 15 previously closed by a glass plate to allow displaying of informationfrom the inside to the observer outside of the cabinet.

Slots '16 and 17 are provided at suitable places toallow operating of the device'from the outside} In the drawlng buttons 18 and 19 are illus trated but it will be easily understood that" other similar suitable means caneasily be provided as long as an operating similar tothisican be had.

A simple desk-20 is provided in front of.

the device 'to show and index and to allow rator or information seeking party or person.

The button 19 is provided inconnectio'n with a cable or chain 21 for 'operating the setting mechanism. The cable or chain may of'oourse be of any suitable material as long as it allows an operating I of this setting mechanism. Pulleys 22 are illustrated in Fig. 3 to guide this flexible means 21 and since such flexible means naturally must be on;

both ends of the cards 23 (see Fig. 2), as disclosed in F ig. 8, it is only natural that a common shaft 24 must be provided for two oppositely arranged pulleys so asto operate both flexible means 011 both ends of the cards at the same time equally.

Theflexible member 21 is provided with a suitable number of prongs 25 projecting sidewise from the flexible member as is illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

These prongs or side, members 25 are engaged with corresponding prongs or members 26 on the traveling and lifting mem ber 27. 7

The traveling and lifting member constitutes a small device having on one end a plate 28 and on the other end a plate 29 connected by pins 30.

This small'traveling member can easily slide back and forth crosswise to th? whole device alongthe slot 31 in the retarding plate 32 illustrated in Fig. 13 as long as en gaged vby the prongs 25 and the flexible member 21. This traveling member is so located during the setting operation that it 1' .freely travels in the space 33 above the prongs 34 in the member 35 illustrated in Fig, 4. The lifting mechanism naturally constitutes two such members 35 to engage with two of the small traveling members as illustrated in Fig. 10.

The common shaft 36 is naturally provided to insure a c'ommon'action to the two members 35 when operated by the button 18.

The traveling 1 member 2'7 has fur thermore an extension 37 provided with prongs 38 .(see Figs. 2 and 6). This extension and prongs are adapted to engage with the ends 39 of the pins or engaging members of the cards 23, after having been set and when operated to be lifted out of their resting position into displaying position. These pin ends 39 of the cards 23 rest, normally in the recesses between the prongs 40 of the rest bar 41. (See also Fig. 7.)

This whole arrangement is made to prevent a disturbing of the cards or displaying means when in their resting position while the lifting mechanism is being set for a selection of a certaln .card or displaying means,

. the small-traveling member 27 being 'normally so far below the pin ends 39 as not to come in contact with the prongs 38 of the traveling member while operated by the inter-engaging of the prongs 25 of the flexible member with the prongs 26 of the traveling member during such setting operation; V I

Suchdisturbance of the display means is furthermore prevented b the'interlocking of-the setting means anc lifting means by theJinterlocki-ng device illustrated in Fig. 11. As'soon asthe lifting mechanism is op-v erated by the button 18 the locking member 42- is naturally pressed or moved out. ofthe; 5

: be easily understood.

drawn by the spring 49 out of one of the notches 47 in the setting mechanism.

The bars 44 and 46 are naturally preferably arranged inside'of the cabinet and suitable connection with the buttons 18 and-19 show that when the'buttons 18 and 19 are operated. such interlocking as described above will be procured. The setting means can then naturally be operated as long as the lifting mechanisms are in suchresting position with the locking means 42 in engagement with notch 4.3. (See Fig. 11.)

To prevent a throwing out of cards or dis playing means from their engaging position duringthe liftingoperation, asuitable retarding means is preferably provided, as

illustrated in Fig. 2, the dash-pot 5O naturally only allowingthe rod 51 to move at such a speed as provided for by its inside over-flowing capacity. g i

The upper end of the bar 51 constitutes the plate 32. The slot 31 is illustrated in Fig. 13 so that the small traveling member 27 will be suitably retarded in any position which it obtains after being set by the flexiup-and-down movement (see Fig. 4).

In connection with the lifting means it will easily be understood that this can-also ing the lifting means in a suitable stra1ght-f be operated by a foot pedal or platform in- See illustration in Fig. .12.)

stead of or in conjunction with 'the button The rod 5-5 then naturally connects the cable 53, the several levers 56 and 57 being operated by the foot pedal 58, as will The setting mechanism can also easily be operated by different means than by the button illustrated'in the several views, as will be clear from the illustration in Fig. 9,-

where the flexible means 21 is wound around a drum 59 operated by an indicating arm 60.

Suitable marks 61 cannaturally .be pro,-

vided on the outside neanzthe indicating" points 62, as will be clear from the illustrations in Figs. 8 and 9.- V

The fragmentary assembly illustration in Fig. letsh'ows one card Get'lifted out of the space between the c-irds'63 in the rest bar 41, on which this card 64: would normally be I resting at a point indicated. at 65, as will.

easily be understood. This illustration is made with just one side board of the cabinet taken off showing the whole inside mechanism, except for the several parts being broken away at points where they would in such an illustration tend to obscure the illustration. The cards are naturally not shown in their full length. The cabinet is broken.

off at the top end and at the bottom, as immaterial to the illustration of the operation of the inside mechanism. A. portion is broken out of the bar '51, and the lower endof the dash Pet 50 is left on. The rollers or pulleys 2 are naturally mounted on the sideboard,

. tal-cen away from the illustration, sincethe its restin position between the rest plate .41

lifting mechanism naturally normally has and the 1' exible member 21 near each of the end plates of the cabinet, as can-be understood fromfthe illustration in. Fig. 2,2the illustration in Fig. .le 'being so to say an end .elevation to the sectional front elevation in l Fig. 2.

it naturally ofadvantage. with .devices or thiskind to have facilitiesinthe main body of the device for storing a possi- ,bly largest number of cards. For this reason, the storing bars or members 41 are made to extend through the whole depth'of the cabinetlfi, as especially'illustrated in Fig.

1-1 bein rovided with such a number of -(notches) or prongs 40 that displaying cards or other similar means23 can be storedon.

such members 4:1 closely side by side through the wholedepth of the cabinet.

Ti hen in such storing position, all theoperating mechanism are not only absolutely disengaged from. such stored dlsplaylng means but even absolutely out of reach that it is. entirely impossible to cause harm to the displaying means when in such stcred position by touchinguor. in some way or manner operating any ofthe outside .or inside mechanism, as will easily beunderstood from the illustrations in Figs. 2, 14-

n. In F ig. 2 alloperating mechanisms wn in their resting or inoperative o tions. thereby illustrating. that the enends of the pins 39 .offthe' dismeans 23 are to. such, an extent free above any and all: the. operating mechanism that either; '"the operating V mechanism canand must be moved first quit-e a' distance before even reaching the pins 39 making it safethat noharm can come to the pins andnaturally to'the 'displaying means long as fin ..thei r= resting side operating means (that in 's' the button 19).

and inoperative position'l The setting mechanism, consisting of the flexible member 211 and the pins or projecting members 25, are in such inoperatw'e' position 1n engagement 1. with the pr0ngs26ot the traveling andflifting members 27. I There are 'naturally'prefeach end the" displaying members '23 ff and; naturally,'-there are proper supporting A meansfor the fiexiblemembers (such'as. the rollers or pulleys 22). Two of the pulleys are" preferably connected by a shaft 24: to provide uniform action on both ends of the displaying means, as'will easily be understood. In this manner, both the flexible 3 is iiifthe drawmembers 21 can and are operated by one out Fhe lifting mechanisms are such-l Figs. lland 15 theengaging end j' l2 of'ithe setting. operations locked byj thej pawl i2,seef:

pawl being during the inoperative location 3 -of the lifting mechanisms normally setting in the notch .43 of etyheldthere by v the spring 4E9.

As soon as the lifting mechanisms are bein operated, the end 48 ofth'bar 45 is naturally compelled to engagein one'of-the.

scribed more fully later on.

notches 47 of the bar 46.1 .This'will' bade- The glifting i mechanisms will antes more simply. be called the "lifting mecha' nism; to include the traveling and lifting: I member 27., the liftinglcro'ss bar 355 and the button 18',"in general. It naturally alsijjincludes the extension bar l4 7 downwardly from the button. 18, and I eventually "other minor details, flexible members for uni} form actionon both ends of the displaying means and other minor details described above but immaterial for the description-of the operation of the lifting mechanism.

that the traveling and'l'igtting member 27 can I 115. As soon as the. lifting mechanism is set in motion-,. the pawl end 42 is first compelled out of the notch 43,si nce thebutton 18 is rigidly in engagement with the downwardly; extending'bart i, as will'easily be under-j stood from the illustrat-ionin Fig-15. Such? disengaging ,of the pawl fend from the I notch 43 naturally causesa corresponding 1 moven entof thebarllfltoward the bar 46 of the setting mechanism thereby compelling an engaging of the end 4839f the bar' l5 one. of the notches 47 of thebar 46. he'bar 46 rigidly w iaee w h 70 erably two such flexible members 21; one "on button 19 of the setting mechanism, as will easily-Le understood from the illustration in V hen the iliftin i biitton 18 is so moved upwardly,interloching the'bars 44 and 4:6 and thereby locking the movement of' the setting button 19, the teeth or prongs 3 1 of the cross bars 35 of the lifting mechanism come naturally first into engagement with the pins '30 of the lifting and traveling members 27, thereby preventing these traveling members from further sidewise traveling. A further upward movement of the button 18 then causes the prongs 26 of the traveling andlifting member 27 to disen gage fromthe prongs of the flexible memers 21, .as will easily'be understood when comparing the Fig. 2 with the Figs. 1 4 and 15., A still further upward movement of the button 18 brings'the prongs'88 of the travelin'g members" 27 into engagement with'the pin ends 39 ofythe displaying member 23,

' and by the prongs 38 of the traveling members 27 V the displaying members 23 are really 2 lifted out of their resting-and storing position in combination with the rest of-the lifta ing mechanism. For this reason the travel- 7 storing position, the setting mechanism may.

ing member 27 is generally and correctly called traveling and lifting mechanism in the beginning of this specification.

The cross heads 32 of the retarding means extend also over the whole width of the device, having slots 31 of a length equal to the cross or sidewise movement of the traveling members, so as to freely allowfthe traveling members to move to any position over the wholewidth of the device at the same time always staying engaged with-the traveling member for controllin Only after s uch displaying member as has been lifted out w of its resting and storing position on the rest bars or st0ring bars41 has beenjallowed to come back into such and, can again be operated as described foregoing description. v

Havi g thus described my inventlon, I

above, as willeasily be understood from the claim:

when' lifted. V

1. In a directory device of the class described, a series of cards, setting means,'a

traveling member normally engaging the setting means, the traveling member havlng engaging meansto engage w th the cards 2. In a directory device of the'cl-ass described in combination with settingand liftingI means, a traveling member having means to normally.,engage with the setting means and adapted to be lifted by the liftingmeans free from setting means.

3. a directory device-of; the class described, in combination with information the up and down movements of the trays ing members, as will easily be understood from the above. 5

mally supporting the displaying members in certain positions, and a traveling memher having means normally engaging with the setting means and having other means to engage with thedisplaying means when so operated by the lifting means.

5. In a directory device of the class described, a series of cards, rest members hav ing means normally holding the cards in certain positions, setting means. having means by which to come into selective position in relation. to one of the cards, and

lifting means having means to bring the card in which relation the setting means have been set into displaying position.

' 6. In a directory devicev of. the class described, a series of cards, setting means, lift-' ing means, a traveling member normally engaging with the setting means having means adapted to be lifted from such posi tion to engage withon'e of the cards, and retarding means arranged in suitable relation tothe lifting means for controlling a j r movement of the traveling member while being'lifted from the setting means infengagement with the selected card.

7. In a directory device ofithe class de-'.

scribed, a series of cards, indicating means on theoutslde of the device, traveling means,

, means in operative connection with the indieatin means and: the travelin means to move the traveling means into selective pos1-, tion in relation to one of the cards, and lift ing means to move the traveling member with the selected card into displaying posl- T tion.

8. In a directory'deviceof the class described, a series of cards, setting means, lifting means, travelingmembers having means normally engaging with the setting means and having means adapted to be lifted from the setting means when set in a selective position in relation to one of the'cards, and

locking means for locking the setting means when thelifting means is operated and havingmeans to lock the lifted means when the setting means is operated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 have signed my name in two subscribing witnesses. 7 WILLIAM .C. CUTLER. Witnesses: I i f G110. H. HENDERSON, J. BQTABOUR.

the presence of 

